Sample space diagrams
Edexcel GCSE Maths revision on Sample space diagrams. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Mathematics 1MA1 specification. This bank has 16 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 16)
-
Question 1
If you roll one fair six-sided die, how many possible outcomes are there in the sample space?
Show answer
Answer: 6
A fair six-sided die has faces numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Therefore, the sample space consists of 6 distinct possible outcomes.
-
Question 2
What is the total number of outcomes when flipping a fair coin and rolling a fair six-sided die simultaneously?
- A) Twelve total outcomes because two times six is twelve
- B) Eight total outcomes because two plus six is eight
- C) Ten total outcomes because two times five is ten
- D) Four total outcomes because two squared is four
Show answer
Answer: Twelve total outcomes because two times six is twelve
The coin has 2 outcomes (Heads, Tails) and the die has 6 outcomes. Multiplying 2 by 6 gives 12 total outcomes, which is the standard way to calculate the size of a combined sample space.
-
Question 3
A bag contains one red marble and one blue marble. If you pick two marbles with replacement, what is the probability of picking two red marbles?
- A) One quarter since there are four total outcomes
- B) One half because red is one of two colours
- C) One third as there are three possibilities
- D) One fifth since there are five outcomes
Show answer
Answer: One quarter since there are four total outcomes
The sample space contains 4 outcomes: (Red, Red), (Red, Blue), (Blue, Red), and (Blue, Blue). Only one of these is (Red, Red), resulting in a probability of 1/4.
Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?
13 more questions on Sample space diagrams — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Maths spec.